While in Newcastle, at the largest food bank in the country, which inspired the award-winning film I, Daniel Blake , an estimated 1,500 people will be fed over the festive period.

Uptake at the Oxford Food Bank has also risen significantly in the last 12 months. It works differently in that it collects surplus food from supermarkets, which it then redistributes to charities, who cook for those in need.

As well as the usual tinned goods, chocolate coins, treats, and Christmas puddings are needed in December

Food bank (Image: Getty)

It goes without saying that at Christmas, food banks need donations more than ever. The OFB charity is cooking Christmas lunch in a 600-capacity venue, and "everyone is welcome".

"We hope this event will attract not just families struggling to cope with the cost of Christmas, or those who might be alone on the day, but who wants to help tackle food waste and join in with a community celebration," the organisation said.

Abby Jitendra, from the Trussell Trust, which partners with and supports local set-ups, told Mirror Online that the winter is a time where families are most in need. Rising energy bills and financial constraints over December heighten an already difficult situation.

The Trussell Trust recommends non-alcoholic Christmas puddings

Christmas pudding is a good option as it lasts (Image: Getty)

"Food banks tell us that they are more likely that not to run out of tinned meat or fish," Abby said.

"As Christmas approaches, food banks will be seeing families who won’t be able to afford a Christmas dinner . So as well as the usual non-perishable foods which food banks need, do donate non-alcoholic Christmas pudding and other festive treats.

"Struggling families at Christmas will have to make difficult decisions about how to make pennies stretch.

"One mum told us that she was scared she’d have to tell her son that 'Christmas was cancelled' this year. Donations of toys to food banks could give families hope this Christmas."

Pies are a good winter warmer

Workers and volunteers at the West End Foodbank in Newcastle are now in the midst of the busiest week of the year.

Michael Nixon, chief executive of the Trussell Trust, which supports the Benwell-based centre, suggested that, if nothing more, gold chocolate coins and other treats – things so many of us take for granted at Christmas – would be massively welcome.

“They have to pay more for utilities and day-to-day costs, as well as gifts and nice food for the table.

“We want as many small toys and treats for primary school children as we can get, for both boys and girls.

“Of the 1,500 we expect to feed, around 700 of those will be children under the age of 16.

“Younger children have more struggles understanding their parents difficulties and why they cant have things other children consider as normal.”

Cereal is also a good food bank staple

Thousands of volunteers keep food banks in operation (Image: Getty)

Director of Cambridge City food bank Jon Edney said that changes to the national benefits system has amplified issues up and down Britain.

“There has been a big increase [in demand] this Christmas," Edney explained to the Cambridge News .

"I’d say probably this December we’ll shift half as much extra, so a 50 per cent increase from last year.

“Recently I met a woman who told me she had £38 for the week to cover all her costs for her family with two school age children. Her husband had lost his job when the company closed and there had been a delay in getting benefit payments."

Christmas is the most difficult time of year for many families

More than 1m food parcels were handed out between April 2015 - 2016 (Image: Getty)

The most recent figures reveal that between April 2015 and April 2016, Trussell Trust food banks alone (there are hundreds more operated by churches and other organisations) provided more than one million three-day food parcels to vulnerable people, the Guardian says.